I’m always on the lookout for new applications that keep my desktop clean and help me focus on the task at hand. SpiritedAway is one such application. Infact, since I found it it’s been one of my favorite behind the scenes utilities. In a nutshell, SpiritedAway automatically hides (Apple+H) inactive applications. I usually end up with a dozen applications/windows open after a half hour or so (ADD?) and I can’t hardly think, let alone focus on my current project. If this sounds familiar then you need to install SpiritedAway!
SpiritedAway is a lightweight application that resides in your menu bar. It’s usage is pretty strait forward, and the application pretty much dose everything for you. There are a few things that you can configure though. By clicking on the SpiritedAway menu bar icon you’ll be prompted with the following menu.
With this menu you can choose whether SpiritedAway is active or inactive. While inactive it won’t hide any unused applications for you. You can also choose which applications you don’t want SpiritedAway to ever hide. Configuring the preferences is just as simple.
The only change I made to the default preferences was to check the add LoginItem button so that SpiritedAway launches when I reboot OS X (which rarely happens). But, if you’d like you can change the amount of time an application must be inactive before SpiritedAway hides it.
At first it might be a little weird seeing background windows disappearing, but I assure you that you’ll appreciate it! Having a clean desktop always helps me work better. One thing that might be important to note is that the foremost application will never auto hide even if you don’t use. Oh, and best of all SpiritedAway is a free download! I also give it bonus points since the icon reminds me of the ghosts in PacMan :)
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Hey Nick,
Thanks for the little rundown of SpiritedAway - it’s great to find nice little apps like this! Do you ever find it annoying though (hiding too fast, losing track of windows - that sort of thing)?
One other question is: do you keep your MBP charging while you’re not using it at night, or do you turn off the power? I’ve thought of keeping my MacBook on all the time but have decided to keep it off during the night because of this question.
Thanks for the great posts! Keep up the good work!
Add Backdrop and MenuShade to this, and your desktop has never been such an zen like place!
Nothing more on your screen than the app you’re working on, no menubar (you know all those keycommands, right?) and no desktop stuff. Mmmmm.
I installed this application and I must say - it is excellent. I am still a bit amazed, when the application disappears, but it really helps me to keep my desktop tidy. Is there any kind of the application to tidy my appartment with such an ease? :-)
Jonathan,
I tend to make SpiritedAway inactive if I’m working on something that involves a handful of applications. Otherwise I just have it set to hide things after a minute. If OS X didn’t add those little triangles to open applications in the dock then I’d probably lose track of things. I find that I get more lost when I have a ton of windows open than when SpiritedAway is cleaning house for me!
Jacco,
You’re a machine! I bet you’ve got your keyboard setup to use dvorak eh? Have you removed the Hard Drive icon from your desktop as well?
Andie,
I think this is what you need. It’s a bit low tech I know, but it seems to get the job done :)
I usually have more trouble with the number of windows I have open in each program… I think that by setting up my mouse so that the wheel button closes windows I have solved this problem well enough without an extra application though. (I used to use the right click for this purpose, but when other people used my machine they would loose all their work, so I have been trying out the wheel button instead. Right click has also become more important to me since I learned to use windows at work.)
HAHAHA, I could just see them now… “Ahhh, what the hell happened to my window? Damn Macs!” LOL. I try to get away from the mouse as much as possible and use keystrokes. But there are some things that just aren’t doable or very efficient with the keyboard.